Follow @WhoAreTheVapersFilm on Social Media. Why? For many reasons. However, the most important reason for the vape community is because "Who Are The Vapers?" will be the title of a short ethnographic documentary film focused on the Vaper as an individual. This film will serve as an observation of the Vaping Community as a whole: a Qualitative Sociological Research Project fueled by passion & purpose. Overall, as a Contributing Writer for VAPEmagazine, Journalist for Vapouround Magazine as well as a Journalist for Vaping Post, I've had the privilege to interview some of the vape industry's most influential personalities and top advocates. Therefore, I am transferring my interviewing abilities into speaking with average, everyday vapers to hear their story of when and why they became a vape. My hope is that the majority of non-vapers who watch this film will begin to hopefully better understand

Notice that my title is in the form of two separate questions. That is because not only am I a Sociologist, I am a researcher, a writer, a filmmaker, and most importantly a citizen of the United States of America. Therefore, many of the statements I make will always be in the form of a question. We must never begin to stop questioning the social construction of our reality and the societal forces that make up the society we live in. Society has become a necessity for human survival at least for the average American. It is no longer just simply food water and shelter is no food water shelter and society in which society provides food water and shelter leaving only society is the primary survival tool for humankind. This is because in America, our society is programming us to believe that we need it or at least subconsciously influencing our opinion on whether we are safer in or outside of American Society. Convincing us daily that it will be far more difficult for us experience the lives we want to live without some type of societal structure to adhere to and ultimately some authorities to obey. Of course, social influence is a healthy feature in this life we live for if we were not socialized or if we did not socialize with others, we would not be healthy human beings. Studies have shown that human beings are social animals; we need face-to-face communication, social acceptance, approval from our peers, and so on. Basically, we must continue to interact socially and exchange information with one another. Social communication is vital to the survival of mankind as a whole, pardon me, I meant to write humankind (The reason I informed you of this political incorrect vocabulary mishap rather than just edit that portion is because I want to tell you the truth: good or bad – and to constantly be honest in my writing endeavors, so I hope for my sake and yours we are all in agreement that this is a strange, yet extremely beneficial approach to social communication that we must comprehend fully in collaboration).

Meanwhile, back to the subject matter at hand “to Vape or not to Vape?” that is one of the questions. And of course this is derivative of the Shakespearian expression from Hamlet, in which the widely-known soliloquy is, “To be or not to be? That is the question.” Although my title is deliberately modified, I’m sure you may have noticed that it was indeed, slightly altered. So hopefully you were able to pick-up on that poorly thought-out, cheap attempt at sarcasm when choosing a title. Regardless, Vaping is literally becoming one of the most important Socio-political issues of the 21st-century, primarily because it is in direct correlation to the state of our Public Health. I want to reiterate the word “our” when referring to public health because we, as Americans, need to be more united on numerous social issues. Though more significantly, we must have opinions and beliefs motivated by truth and facts, so the content of our education determines the quality and me must preserve the quality of our education. The topic of Vaping was never meant to be a social issue, it was never created with the intent to be confrontational in any way it is merely a creation of alternative nicotine intake, which certainly seems to resonate with public health debates in America. Nearly half a million Americans die each year to tobacco-related illnesses. Branding tobacco essentially as, public enemy number one, due to the fact that it is the number one killer of Americans. This is important to reflect on because Vaping Products contain no tobacco, whatsoever. However, they do, typically include nicotine, hence serving as an alternative delivery device for nicotine instead of smoking traditional tobacco cigarettes.

The traditional tobacco cigarette also sometimes referred to as a combustible cigarette has become, as stated previously, public enemy number one or at least should be labeled as such. The only reason they are not is because the big tobacco industry is comprised of massive wealth and when I say massive wealth I mean nearly indestructible forces are at work due to the fact that they have so much currency…and then influence…and more power. This massive wealth that creates such power allows them to operate in a separate realm, far from our understanding of reality, in which the reality they function in is practically their own invention, they exist and operate in an alternate world we could not ever imagine being a part of. The big tobacco industry literally has more revenue than most countries. Of course, I’m referring to Third World countries or peripheral foreign countries of soveigrnty, yet nonetheless they are still countries with citizens who should have a right to choose what their children have access to and they definitely do not have that type of luxury that we so often take for granted. From what Ive learned, Big tobacco comes into these third world countries and sells their product which is, understandably, a great business practice, yet from an ethical standpoint or a more humane view, it is utterly absurd and amoral in nature; unjust. If they are public enemy number one, the number one killer in America, why are they given permission to travel all over the world frolicking across the globe advertising their product…which is death by burning tobacco for inhalation. I don’t want to reveal this, but I can’t help but think this is just another form of military occupation by invading another country and killing their citizens, but then again, they kill our own citizens daily as well and it hurts my heart. No, literally,my heart hurts because I smoked for 15 years. I burned tobacco for inhalation purposes, simultaneously receiving a nicotine intake but also inhaling a build up of carcinogen-infested tar, a deadly concoction of added chemicals, manufactured chemicals and naturally existing toxins caused solely by the combustion of tobacco.

Regardless, my smoking days are over and tobacco-cigarette consumption is in my rearview mirror; they’re in the past, a mere memory, but the damage has been done to my body and I can never take that back, especially because it was my choice to smoke. So, I except responsibility, but I don’t accept unyielding, relentless ignorance spreading and expanding throughout the planet we share. It was never my responsibility to manufacture these tobacco cigarettes nor do I or did I supply them to the public. Manufacturing and supplying services for tobacco are left up to the tobacco companies or should I say, global corporate conglomerates (if you don’t know what that means look it up online or in any Sociology Textbook and you’ll understand where I’m coming from). If you are a smoker and you are reading this shaking your head, thinking: “who does this guy think he is?” Well, I understand that reaction entirely, I probably would be doing the same thing if I were still smoking because when I was smoking I was largely in favor of Big Tobacco in the name of economics and American superiority. When I was a smoker, I truly thought the new electronic cigarettes were a joke, that they were nothing more than something a “poser” would use or perhaps a “yuppie” activity. Boy, was I wrong! I was far off the beaten path and I believe I am correct now when I state that electronic cigarettes and vaporizing devices are the solution to the increasing deaths that tobacco is responsible for. Overall, I switched to Vaping 2years ago, quitting smoking traditional cigarettes altogether. I smoked one cigarette three weeks after I began to use electronics and it literally made me nauseated to the point where I felt as if I were going to vomit. Swearing off tobacco cigarettes entirely and focusing on Vaping strictly immediately became my everyday personal choice in habitual behaviors. Thus, Vaping CAN save us, it has saved us, it will save us, it will be our savior. Coincidrntally, many people disagree and choose to say and share some deliberately untruthful things about the act of Vaping, claiming the many health risks are imminently involved or the economic disadvantage it could cause would be purely devastating. Yet, so far every VAPER I’ve had the pleasure to meet has been a former smoker and proud to now Vape. In this digital era we live in, there are fewer people to have meaningful face-to-face verbal exchanges with nowadays. Therefore, most of my conversations are with those who choose to vape. Vapers are extremely sociable, not to mention grateful, patient, professional, confident, educated, technical, expressive, forward-thinking and passionate individuals. They will continually stress the fact that Vaping has saved their lives; claiming to be feeling so much better than when they were smoking, claiming to have more money at the end of the day since tobacco products were so expensive, claiming to have an overall better sense of health and well-being and ultimately claiming that the quality of their lives has improved drastically, in many ways. Some people have even accused Vapers of being annoying and impulsive, due by and large to the fact that Vapers seem as if they’re purposely forcing their own ideas and personal habits onto others far too often. However, what it is that we are actually doing is trying to inform people and educate them on how much safer electronic cigarettes and Vaping products truly are when compared to tobacco cigs. We’re trying to share our true stories of redemption, we’re hoping to show others that they too could cut tobacco smoking from their lives forever, we’re trying to help people. So me might say “why do Vapers think the smokers need or want their help?” Well, that is of course because the Vapers all used to be smokers, they used to be in the same pair of shoes, so they have genuine empathy for a smoker’s situation, in which their situation includes a faster paced road to a painfully ill experience before imminent death, something much far worse than we may experience in a prolonged natural death. People might say, if this is the case then, “where’s the scientific evidence? There are not yet any long-term studies to prove this, so how do you know that electronic cigarettes and Vaping products are much safer than traditional cigarettes?” In which these are all great questions and valid points. Then again, the scientific evidence is there, it does most certainly exist, you just have to find it online, as I urge you to seriously research this data, self-educating is some of the best therapeutic activities you could partake in, due to cognitive stimulation. Coincentally, another advantage of Vaping nicotine, improving cognitive function is seriously being linked to the intake of nicotine, not tobacco, but nicotine for certain. In regards to the argument of lacking long-term studies, all I can say is that the short-term effects have been so positive early on that I doubt there will be very much long-term disadvantages or harmful outcomes in the future for those who choose to vape.

Nevertheless, in times like this, I think it is wise to perform your due-diligence and research factual information and scientific data from research studies that are not funded by big tobacco interests as well as avoiding data modified by Big Pharmaceutical interests to protect the revenues they receive from smoking cessation drugs. Don’t simply except the answers given by junk science or hack reporters from paid off mainstream media articles. Sometimes you gotta look between the lines; deep within the cracks, not always staring straight ahead at the very first thing you see in front of you we were listening to the very first thing about the subject matter much like all of the information content shared by the main stream – you have to go underground to find the real information that is genuinely produced for factual analysis and improving communication. An honest interpretation. Look at the research and data that has been published by academic journals, Vaping advocates or Vaping industry organizations or a select few public health journals and compare and contrast all of the evidence. In conclusion, “To Vape or not to Vape?” was the question and I think we know the answers now. I think it is time we take charge of our lives and choose where we will get our information from, which information we choose to absorb and how we interpret it. Not just for your own sake but for the sake of this great country. Regardless, whenever there is an issue which involves people dying at alarming rates, more and more, younger and younger, and we have the power to do something about it, then the answer is clear, we must always: choose humanity over vanity.

It’s entirely reasonable that some people might read this title and think to themselves: “Say what?” More often than not, whenever I inform people that I’m working on a Filmmaking Project that is Ethnographic in nature, they will look at me as if I were an unearthly being polluting their narrow understanding of vocabulary. Yet, I must admit, when I first learned of the meaning behind Ethnography, it was not until I was 24-years-old registering for my first Grad School course at DePaul University, which was titled: “Ethnographic Documentary Film Production.” I basically had to look up the definition of Ethnography and it stated, “Ethnography is a qualitative design, where the researcher explains and exposes examples about shared learnt patterns of values, behavior, beliefs, and language of a culture shared by a group of people.”

Taking this into consideration, now that we all know what an actual Ethnographic Study consist of, it is now crucial to also understand what this filmed research is all about. “WhoAreTheVapers?” will be the title of my short documentary, so we will explore the individual life of a diverse collection of interview participants who are passionate about the act of Vaping. We will be observing VAPERS in their natural habitat. Typically, the preferred area where vapers seem to come together is inside brick & mordor Vape Shops or Vaping Expos worldwide. The Vaping Industry is a business now close to earning almost a $5 billion annually.

For those unfamiliar with Vaping, it is the heating of distinctly flavored nicotine in liquid form to the point of vaporization with the use of an electronic device designed for inhaling the vapor; an alternative source for delivering nicotine via inhalation. Altogether, one could easily admit that Vaping is essentially the most influential harm reducing technological advancement for public health by way of decreasing the existence of smoking combustible traditional tobacco cigarettes. However, at the same time, many would also argue that Vaping is the same or worse than smoking in regards to your overall health and well-being. Which explains the deeming FDA regulations threatening the Vape community and their rights as consumers by inaccurately labeling vapes as tobacco products. Yet, Vaping products do not include any tobacco whatsoever, there is only nicotine so the likeliness of consuming harmful carcinogens is not nearly as high as it would be with Smoking traditional cigarettes.

Nevertheless, the anti-Vaping movement is being forged in the name of junk science and hack reporters all willing to accept residuals for publishing false information. Truthfully, I have no proof of this at the moment, but as a Sociologist, my socialized instinct tries convincing me that Big Tobacco as well as Big Pharma, joined forces and are combining assets for donating financial contributions to numerous organizations, individual professionals, institutions, Industrialists and especially regulatory agencies and political figures with their motivation being described by the destruction of the Vape industry. In reality, what this would do is threaten the extinction of the small business sector in our free market based economy, in which Vape shops are all primarily Mom & Pop operations. Destroying small businesses is literally anti-American, after all, we are a Capitalist nation and allowing thriving small businesses to continue on a pace of flourishing expansion is a strong component for Capitalism as a systematic approach to economic development, which is indeed a key feature to this debate many have yet to consider.

All in all, with much politically-charged disputes surrounding the Vaper Community, I’m hoping to make a film that is much more of a story dedicated to revealing the personal lives of VAPERS rather than focusing on the politically-driven strategies we tend to see and hear too much of. The personal backstories from VAPERS are very compelling, emotional, and relatable for many people who are not Vaping or for those unsure of their stance on Vaping or perhaps those who could care less otherwise.

My primary objective is to offer the Vaping-outsiders an opportunity to learn more from the firsthand accounts they’ll discover directly from the vaper, who will be speaking their minds as individuals representing themselves and nothing else. This will all be accomplished by in-depth interviewing by asking open-ended questions with a freestyle conversing format accompanied by a camera. Additionally, filming the day-to-day activity and socializing vaper behaviors that take place within those Mom & Pop Shops.

In addition, from the perspective of using social research methods, this documentary will serve as an observational study. Therefore, my theory is that viewers of this film could very easily acquire more empathy towards VAPERS after hearing all their riveting stories. This empathy can, in turn, hopefully create more social acceptance by the general public, if the majority of our own citizens agree that Vaping is the poster-child for improving public health, then we will help eliminate the statistic of tobacco killing 1/2 million Americans annually. Which side of history do you want to be associated with? Are you a creator or a destroyer? Do you have no interest in formulating an opinion? Let me fill your apathy with empathy and we can all Vape together, harmoniously.

In hindsight, I never thought Social Networking sites would literally become an addiction, especially since I thought I despised most of them. Oh! And the fact that I’m not a teenager in middle school literally adds to how unusual this recent social media & APP uploading obsession has become. Altogether, I initially began this endeavor to boost the online presence of our family’s business and we’ve certainly had our presence become a widespread development online. However, many of the accounts I’ve made can be considered partially established, especially when I had never heard of most of these sites. Regardless, beware of Google Chrome App Store as you begin to think you need every APP it has to offer, in which it practically has absolutely anything and everything a single individual may think they need. Do you want to create your own online brochure? Do you like to watch TV & Movies? Are you a freelance artist looking to branch out or connect with fellow artists? Or, perhaps you’d like to get married and start a family? Well, there’s literally an APP for each scenario I listed, yet the marriage/family starter-kit APP was merely an over-the-top exaggeration. Either way, I for one am a huge fan of Google Chrome Store and what they have to offer, especially if you’re a small business owner looking for a place to start your online portfolio!

We are proudly ranked #5 out of 135 restaurants in Golden, CO on TripAdvisor…which is amazing since we’ve only been there one year while the others in the Top 10 have been around for anywhere between 15-30 years. So this baby of ours is growing steadily, as it should…we work so hard and I thought my only passionate career moves would be in correlation to anything dealing with basketball, Sociology or basically anything else outside of the restaurant business realm.

Yet, I’ve found running a restaurant is exactly like all of my other passions in life, the more u put into it, the more you’ll get out of it. Duh! Plus, this industry has so much in common with Sociological Perspectives, Social Research, Theoretical Concepts & overall a completely specialized view on human behavior that I may just write an academia-effective & hopefully publishable journal article at some point.

So maybe I haven’t necessarily found a new passion yet I’ve actually just found my passion for Sociology in a certain place I never looked towards nor worked in prior to this current endeavor. SPOILER: Coming Soon (POSSIBLY, not yet tho), Academic Journal Article, titled “Social-Logical Viewpoints: the dichotomy of food and human behavior and their connection to creating logically sociable interactions among strangers” but maybe it should simply be called “Unknown Friendship: How the restaurant industry builds positive relationships, theorized Sociologically.” Regardless, while many of my friends may be scratching their heads, I still feel that many of you completely understand what I’m saying or trying to point out. Sociology is ubiquitous or omnipresent & I won’t ever stop making it a goal to spread the word no matter what it is u think you heard…